Mahota Textiles is the first textile company envisioned and owned by a North American tribe, the Chickasaw. The Chickasaw grew cotton at one time and the company now creates its blankets in cotton, using computerized looms that enable it to produce multiple items of the same product, which allows the tribe to disperse its art throughout the country.

The Chickasaw were one of five tribes moved by the United States from their Southeastern homelands into Oklahoma. The Mahota name represents several generations of women in the tribe, including Margaret Roach Wheeler, founder of the company.

The Chickasaw Map II Blanket can be thought of as an educational document. Originally painted on deerskin, the Chickasaw Map of 1723 is an important visual of Chickasaw history as it illustrates how the world was viewed by the Chickasaw’s ancestors: “The map outlines in an artistic way, waterways, trade routes, and the relationships with other tribes.” It is very colorful with circles indicating important places, lines showing connections, all against a background of colored stripes.

Like other Indigenous peoples, the Chickasaw include designs to illustrate the myths and symbols of the tribe. The White Dog’s Path Blanket, for example, depicts the Milky Way, or Ofi’ Tohbi’ Ihina’ (the White Dog’s road), which “is believed to be the path that deceased Chickasaw tribal members use to travel to the other side.”

Ascension Blanket (see above) interprets the Chikasaw creation story in a more abstract way. And Mahli (Wind) Blanket (below left) features an expressionistic design.

Mahota Textiles offers many other products including totes, purses, pillows, scarves, linens, and swaddling blankets for babies.

For more Indigenous design, see Ibuju Bench.